diff --git a/tests/pytorch/test_fusible_ops.py b/tests/pytorch/test_fusible_ops.py
index 7c75d11e3b..b97bccd1b2 100644
--- a/tests/pytorch/test_fusible_ops.py
+++ b/tests/pytorch/test_fusible_ops.py
@@ -71,6 +71,41 @@
 # Supported devices
 _devices: list[torch.device] = [torch.device("cpu"), torch.device("cuda")]
 
+
+def test_basic_operation_activation_offloading_policy(monkeypatch):
+    """BasicOperation should expose a public opt-out for saved activation CPU offload."""
+    import transformer_engine.pytorch.ops.op as op_module
+
+    calls = []
+    tensor = torch.empty(1)
+    tensor_id = id(tensor)
+    op = te_ops.Identity()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        op_module,
+        "mark_activation_offload",
+        lambda *tensors: calls.append(("mark", [id(t) for t in tensors])),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        op_module,
+        "mark_not_offload",
+        lambda *tensors: calls.append(("skip", [id(t) for t in tensors])),
+    )
+
+    op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(tensor, None)
+    assert calls == [("mark", [tensor_id])]
+
+    calls.clear()
+    op.set_activation_offloading(False)
+    op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(tensor)
+    assert calls == [("skip", [tensor_id])]
+
+    calls.clear()
+    op.set_activation_offloading(True)
+    op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(tensor)
+    assert calls == [("mark", [tensor_id])]
+
+
 # Supported quantization recipes
 _quantization_list: list[Optional[str]] = [None]
 if fp8_available:
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/activation.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/activation.py
index f4beffe90c..709ea9f5c7 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/activation.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/activation.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 import transformer_engine_torch as tex
 from ...constants import DType
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...tensor.float8_tensor import Float8CurrentScalingQuantizer, Quantizer
 from ...utils import clear_tensor_data
 from ..op import BasicOperation, OperationContext
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x)
             ctx.save_for_backward(x)
             ctx.dtype = dtype
             ctx.prev_op_grad_output_quantizer = prev_op_grad_output_quantizer
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
         ctx = basic_op_ctxs[0]
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x)
             ctx.input_requires_grad = True
             ctx.extra_input_requires_grad = extra_input.requires_grad
             ctx.dtype = dtype
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/basic_linear.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/basic_linear.py
index 6b17d66fcd..9e241a5c12 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/basic_linear.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/basic_linear.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 import torch
 
 from ...cpp_extensions import general_gemm
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...distributed import (
     CudaRNGStatesTracker,
     gather_along_first_dim,
@@ -1049,11 +1049,11 @@ def op_forward(
             else:
                 saved_input = x_local
                 saved_weight = w
+            # No special CPU offloading logic is needed for weights. saved_weight is
+            # either self.weight (nn.Parameter, auto-excluded from offload) or a
+            # workspace freshly created each forward pass.
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                # No special CPU offloading logic is needed for weights. saved_weight is
-                # either self.weight (nn.Parameter, auto-excluded from offload) or a
-                # workspace freshly created each forward pass.
-                mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
             ctx.save_for_backward(saved_input, saved_weight)
             ctx.with_quantized_compute = with_quantized_compute and backward_override is None
             ctx.backward_override = backward_override
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/dropout.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/dropout.py
index 8850604aad..519d29ede2 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/dropout.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/dropout.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 import torch
 import transformer_engine_torch as tex
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ...tensor.storage.float8_tensor_storage import Float8TensorStorage
 from .._common import maybe_autocast_dtype, maybe_dequantize
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save context for backward
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(mask)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(mask)
             ctx.save_for_backward(mask)
             ctx.impl = impl
             ctx.dropout_probability = self.dropout_probability
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/grouped_linear.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/grouped_linear.py
index 73e328c9d1..c7c1f33b5e 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/grouped_linear.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/grouped_linear.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     _2X_ACC_DGRAD,
     _2X_ACC_WGRAD,
 )
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload, start_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, start_offload
 from ...quantization import FP8GlobalStateManager, QuantizerRole, Recipe
 from ...quantized_tensor import QuantizedTensorStorage
 from ...tensor import MXFP8Quantizer, MXFP8Tensor, Quantizer
@@ -1039,12 +1039,12 @@ def fuser_forward_save_ctx(
                 # Layout: [split_sizes, base_split_offsets, split_points, (scales?), grouped_x, *weights]
                 grouped_x = saved[offset]
                 if grouped_x is not None:
-                    mark_activation_offload(grouped_x)
+                    self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(grouped_x)
             else:
                 # Layout: [split_sizes, None, None, (scales?), *xs, *ws]
                 live_xs = [t for t in saved[offset : offset + self.num_groups] if t is not None]
                 if live_xs:
-                    mark_activation_offload(*live_xs)
+                    self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(*live_xs)
 
         ctx.save_for_backward(*tensors_to_save[0])
 
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/l2normalization.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/l2normalization.py
index be155c9356..eee1794439 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/l2normalization.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/l2normalization.py
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 
 import torch
 
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...torch_version import torch_version
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
 from ...jit import (
     l2normalization_fused,
     l2normalization_fwd_fused,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x, rsqrt_norm)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x, rsqrt_norm)
             ctx.save_for_backward(x, rsqrt_norm)
 
         return y
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/layer_norm.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/layer_norm.py
index 3fda5145c6..c1a8255132 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/layer_norm.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/layer_norm.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 from transformer_engine_torch import layernorm_bwd, layernorm_fwd
 from ...constants import TE_DType
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...export import is_in_onnx_export_mode
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ...utils import (
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x, means, rstdevs)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x, means, rstdevs)
             ctx.save_for_backward(x, means, rstdevs)
             ctx.dtype = dtype
 
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/rmsnorm.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/rmsnorm.py
index 1d8d8be971..a9079b6159 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/rmsnorm.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/rmsnorm.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 from transformer_engine_torch import rmsnorm_bwd, rmsnorm_fwd
 from ...constants import TE_DType
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...export import is_in_onnx_export_mode
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ...utils import (
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x, rstdevs)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x, rstdevs)
             ctx.save_for_backward(x, rstdevs)
             ctx.dtype = dtype
 
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/swiglu.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/swiglu.py
index 02f330ede3..72c0286fff 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/swiglu.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/basic/swiglu.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 import torch
 
 import transformer_engine_torch as tex
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...constants import DType
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
 from ...tensor import Float8CurrentScalingQuantizer, Quantizer
 from ...utils import clear_tensor_data
 from ..op import BasicOperation, OperationContext
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(input_)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(input_)
             ctx.save_for_backward(input_)
             ctx.dtype = dtype
             ctx.prev_op_grad_output_quantizer = prev_op_grad_output_quantizer
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ def op_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x)
             ctx.save_for_backward(x)
             ctx.dtype = dtype
             ctx.prev_op_grad_output_quantizer = prev_op_grad_output_quantizer
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
         ctx = basic_op_ctxs[0]
         if ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(input_)
+                self.maybe_mark_activation_offload(input_)
             ctx.input_requires_grad = True
             ctx.extra_input_requires_grad = extra_input.requires_grad
             ctx.dtype = dtype
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_grouped_mlp.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_grouped_mlp.py
index f03ccc15b5..fa7d56a78d 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_grouped_mlp.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_grouped_mlp.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 import torch
 
 import transformer_engine_torch as tex
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload, start_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, start_offload
 from ...cpp_extensions import general_gemm, general_grouped_gemm_for_grouped_tensor
 from ...quantization import Recipe
 from ...tensor import NVFP4Quantizer, NVFP4Tensor, Quantizer
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
         basic_op_kwargs: list[dict[str, Any]],
     ) -> tuple[torch.Tensor, Iterable[Iterable[torch.Tensor]]]:
         # Get basic operations
-        fc1_op, _, fc2_op = self.basic_ops
+        fc1_op, activation_op, fc2_op = self.basic_ops
         fc1_ctx, activation_ctx, fc2_ctx = basic_op_ctxs
 
         # Tensor properties
@@ -726,7 +726,6 @@ def fuser_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if requires_grad:
             mark_grouped_tensor(grouped_fc1_x, activation_in, scales, grouped_fc2_x)
-            activation_op = self.basic_ops[1]
             cpu_offloading = is_cpu_offload_enabled()
             activation_is_srelu = isinstance(activation_op, ScaledSReLU)
             activation_recompute_in_mlp = bool(
@@ -754,7 +753,9 @@ def fuser_forward(
                     t for t in (grouped_fc1_x, activation_in, saved_grouped_fc2_x) if t is not None
                 ]
                 start_offload(*activation_tensors)
-                mark_activation_offload(*activation_tensors)
+                fc1_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(grouped_fc1_x)
+                activation_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(activation_in)
+                fc2_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(saved_grouped_fc2_x)
 
             # FC1 saved-tensor layout.
             #   [split_sizes, base_split_offsets, split_points,
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_activation.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_activation.py
index 8df929f799..8e5c5f841b 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_activation.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_activation.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import torch
 
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...quantization import FP8GlobalStateManager
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ..basic import BasicLinear, Bias
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
                 saved_input = x_local
                 saved_weight = w
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
+                linear_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
             linear_op_ctx.save_for_backward(saved_input, saved_weight)
             linear_op_ctx.with_quantized_compute = (
                 with_quantized_compute and backward_override is None
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_add.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_add.py
index 5376a7d264..d2e085e41b 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_add.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_bias_add.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import torch
 
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...quantization import FP8GlobalStateManager
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ..basic import AddExtraInput, BasicLinear, Bias
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
                 saved_input = x_local
                 saved_weight = w
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
+                linear_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
             linear_op_ctx.save_for_backward(saved_input, saved_weight)
             linear_op_ctx.with_quantized_compute = (
                 with_quantized_compute and backward_override is None
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_scale_add.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_scale_add.py
index abeb39adfa..8852a60e92 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_scale_add.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/forward_linear_scale_add.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 import torch
 
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...quantization import FP8GlobalStateManager
 from ...tensor import Quantizer
 from ..basic import AddExtraInput, BasicLinear, ConstantScale
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
                 saved_input = x_local
                 saved_weight = w
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
+                linear_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(saved_input)
             linear_op_ctx.save_for_backward(saved_input, saved_weight)
             linear_op_ctx.with_quantized_compute = (
                 with_quantized_compute and backward_override is None
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/userbuffers_forward_linear.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/userbuffers_forward_linear.py
index 3a8ff5438d..07d66a3b3a 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/userbuffers_forward_linear.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/fused/userbuffers_forward_linear.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 from transformer_engine_torch import CommOverlapType
 from ...cpp_extensions import general_gemm
-from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled, mark_activation_offload
+from ...cpu_offload import is_cpu_offload_enabled
 from ...distributed import get_distributed_world_size
 from ...quantization import FP8GlobalStateManager
 from ...module.base import (
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def fuser_forward(
         # Save state for backward pass
         if linear_op_ctx.requires_grad:
             if is_cpu_offload_enabled():
-                mark_activation_offload(x_local)
+                linear_op.maybe_mark_activation_offload(x_local)
             linear_op_ctx.save_for_backward(x_local, w)
             linear_op_ctx.with_quantized_compute = with_quantized_compute
             linear_op_ctx.input_quantizer = input_quantizer
diff --git a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/op.py b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/op.py
index 86bd60ed9c..9e2c442ff5 100644
--- a/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/op.py
+++ b/transformer_engine/pytorch/ops/op.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import torch
 
 from transformer_engine.common.recipe import Recipe
+from ..cpu_offload import mark_activation_offload, mark_not_offload
 from ..quantization import (
     FP8GlobalStateManager,
     QuantizerRole,
@@ -189,11 +190,36 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         # Objects for quantization
         self._fp8_metas: Optional[dict[str, dict[str, Any]]] = None
         self._quantizers: Optional[dict[str, list[Quantizer]]] = None
+        self.activation_offloading: bool = True
 
     @property
     def is_fused_op(self) -> bool:
         return False
 
+    def set_activation_offloading(self, enabled: bool) -> None:
+        """Enable or disable activation CPU offloading for tensors saved by this op.
+
+        CPU offloading is controlled by the surrounding offload context. This setting only
+        opts this operation's saved activation tensors in or out of that context.
+        """
+        self.activation_offloading = enabled
+
+    def maybe_mark_activation_offload(self, *tensors: Any) -> None:
+        """Mark saved activation tensors for CPU offloading in an active offload context.
+
+        If activation offloading has been disabled for this op, mark the tensors so the
+        active offload context skips them.
+        """
+        tensors = tuple(tensor for tensor in tensors if tensor is not None)
+        if not tensors:
+            return
+
+        if not self.activation_offloading:
+            mark_not_offload(*tensors)
+            return
+
+        mark_activation_offload(*tensors)
+
     def num_quantizers(
         self,
         mode: str,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument